Apparatus for softening water



Nov. 2 1926.

A. J. DOTTERWEICH APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING WATER Filed May 19, 925

FIGJ.

W/TIVESSEG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fll5.4.

Nov. 2, 1926. 1,605,652 I A. J. DOTTERWEICH APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING WATER Filed y 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l m/wswrma WITNESSES &

remain 2, 1920.

I mm J. DO'ITIBWIIGE, OI PITTSBURGH,

' nrmru's Ion comma warns.

Application fled "I! 18, ms. serial 10.. 81,818.

My invention relates to improvements in a aratus for softenin water, and espec1a y to that ty utilizing a material such as zeolite, capa'b e of being regenerated.

The improvement here involved provides means for. controlling the circulation through the softening. medium or chamber where y the several operations of softening, removing foreign matter from the softening material, regenerating the zeolite, and washing or cleaning subsequent to regeneration, with resumption of softening, are performed in due sequence.

The circulation, in effecting these several operations is controlled through a valve mechanism, constructed and adapted to operate, as hereinafter more fully described. In the drawings, showing certain pre-' ferred embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a view of the circulating control mechanism in front elevation;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the valve casmg from the left side;

ig. 3 is a similar view from the opposite Fig. 4 isa plan-view of the valve casing Figs. 5, 7, 9 and 11 are vertical sectiona views on the line VV of Fig. 2, showin successive positions of the cam controlleiv valves in one chamber of the casing.

Figs. 6, 8, 10 and 12 are similar views on the hue VIVI of Fig. 2, showing corresponding positions of the cam controlled valves in t e other chamber of the casing;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view, showing continuous power application to the cam shaft.

The main chamber A, of well known-construction, contains the softening material as zeolite, through which the raw or bar water is circulated in the usual manner. As is well understood in the art, and. as practiced by me in carrying-out the operation disclosed in prior application filed January 19, 1924, Serial No. 687,3 i0, the several attendant operations are performed in roper sequence. These, in the order of their performance, are: Y

(a) Softening i. e., passing the hard. water downward body of zeolite. J

(b) Backwashing, i; e., passin hard water u wardly or in reverse flow t ough the zeo ite, for cleansing and breaking up 1y through the contained of the mineral, and thence to the drain as waste.

-(c) Salting, i. e., passing hard water wit a contained brine solution downwardly through the zeolite and thence to the drain.

(d) Refiushing, by through the softening c amber downwardly through the zeolite and outwardly to the drain.

These several sequential steps comprise a cycle of operations from the commencement of softening treatment to the removal of. the soft water from the zeolite. I

Softening continues until the material has become inefiective, whereupon, the second operation, backwashing, effects its loosening and mechanical cleaning or flushing. During the softening operation, the water hardemn elements, i. e., lime andmagnesium, are e lminated from the water by the substitution of sodium therefor, and b reaction of these elements. After the bac ashin the material is regenerated by passin sa is water through the material to provi e for replacement of the lime and magnesium by the sodium, and finally the salt water is removed from the zeolite, when it is again ready to efiectsoftening by passing hard water through it, as stated.

Heretofore, these various operations have been effected either manuall or automatically through various contro ling and actuating mechanisms and connections, and a plurality of controlling valves to establish the several circulating currents by opening and closing certain of such valves, dependent on the circulation desired.

In describing the construction and. o eration of the present invention, thecyc e of operations coverin the four etc 9 above noted, a, b, a an d, should be me in mind.

In my several circulating currents through a double sided valve casing. Throu h one side of said casir current is su' ied to the chamber for (a) softening,

assing fresh 1 water resent invention, I control the backwashing, (a) salting, and (d refinishing, re-

spectively. Through the ot er' side, a current of a) softened water is delivered to the supp y line and (bi backwash water, (0) saltmg water, and re-fiushing Water are delivered to the drain. I

. Said valve casing is mounted inany concommon pipe 9 leadin venient' position as on the front of the main softening chamber, and the various c rculating pi connections lead to the interior thereo and terminate in valve seats. These are opened and closed by a system of opening and closing valves, which in turn are actuated in proper seguence through a single controlling stem an a pluralit thereon, as hereinafter describe The valve casing 2, of suitable construction, has a middle vertical partition 3 dividing its interior into two side-by-side front and rear chambers 4 and 5, closed by outer plates 6, 6. From the upper wall of casing 2 are branch pipes 7, 8, connected by a Y- coupling from chambers 4 and 5, with a to the upper portion of easing A. In t e same way, branch pipes 10, 11, connect chambers 4 and 5 with a common pipe 12 leading to its lower porion.

Raw or hard water is furnished to cham- 4 by feed pipe 13 and branch 14, and feed pipe 13 is also connected with the salt ejector 15 of the brine supply pipe 16. Said pipe leads u wardly from bl'llle tank 17' through checfi vaive 18, and is connected above the ejector with the bottom of front chamber 4 by brine supply pipe 19.

A soft water delivery pipe 20 leads from rear chamber 5 at the side opposite connection 11 and a drain deiivery pipe 21 leads downwardly from the bottom of chamber 5 opposite connection 3, The several connections just described communicate with the interior chambers 4 and respectively through valve seatedopenings "2' 10, 14

and 19*, respectively, as to chamber 4; and

with openings 8, 11 529 tively, as to chamber 5 Valve seats '3' and 10" of chamber 4 are opened and closed by an L-shaped valve 22 pivoted at 23. Valve seats 14 and 19 are opened and closed by a simiiar valve 24 pivoted at 25. Valve seats 8 and 11 of and 21*, respecchamber 5 are opened and closed by a simiconnecting spring 31 or 32.

lar valve 26 pivoted at 27. Valve seats 20 and 21 are opened and closed by a similar valve 28 pivoted at 29.

These valves, as shown, are arranged in pairs, one pair for each chamber, each adapted to control a corresponding pair of valve seats, and to open one seat of each pair when the other is closed, and vice versa.

Each of said several valves 22, 24, 26 and 28 is provided with an abutment or roller 30 adapted to be held in operative contact with t e edge of its actuatin cam by a ountedon a common rotating shaft 33 are the several actuating cams 3t, 35, in chamber 4, and 36, 37, in chamber 5. As shown, cams 34 and 35 are in duplicateand registering position with the active portion of the cams side by of cams side, and cams 33 and 37 have their active portions extending in o posite directions.

anism, may be varied to suit varying conditions of use as to time of flow through the various ports, order of rotation, etc., as desired.

The cams are rotated by any suitable means through their shafts 33, which is mounted in proper packed hearings in the middle wall 3 and cover plates 6, 6. I have shown a hand wheel 38 which may be used for manual operation, or, if preferred, a gear wheel 39 may be driven through gearing connected with a controlled motor 40, as in Fig. 13.

The operation of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description. Rotation of the stem ,33, either intermittently, or continuously at slow speed, will actuate the valves individually in proper sequence by engagement of abutments 30 by the raised portions of the cams, closing, for instance, ported valve seat 7 and opening ported valve seat 10*. Reverse movement and alternate opening and closing is eifected by springs 31 and 32 when the active portion of either cam passes beyond either abutment.

With ports 7 and 14 of chamber 4 and ports 11 and 20 of chamber 5 open, as in Figs. 5 and 6, the valves are set for (a) so toning. In such position, hard water from supply line 1314 enters chamber 4 through port 14 and passes out through port 7, and branch line 7, through pipe 9, to the upper portion of chamber A. The Water passes downwardly through the contained mineral to the bottom, and thence outwardly and upwardly through pipe 12 and branch 11, through port 11, to chamber 5, and through port 20*, to delivery pi e 20. With the valves in the positions s own 1n Figs. 7 and 8 for (b) backwashing, the water from supply line 13-14 enters chamber 4 through port 14*, asses outwardl through port 10 to branc 10, downwar ly through pipe 12, to the bottom of chamher A, thence upwardly through the minerlti, outwardly through pipe 9 and branch 8, through port 8, to chamber 5, then outwardly through port 21, to drain pi e 21.

With the valves in the position of igs. 9 and 10 for the (c) salting operation, raw water is supplied by pipe 13 to ejector 15, by action of which brine is carried up from tank 17 through check valve 18 and delivered by pipe 19 through port 19, to chamher 4, thence outwardly through port 7,

. of double-acting valve members each branch 7, and pipe 9, to upper portion of easing A, downwardly through the mineral, then upwardly through pipe 12, and branch 1.1, through port 11", to chamber 5, and outwardly through port 21, to drain pipe 21.

With valves set as in Figs. 11 and 12 for ((l) flushing, water from line'13-14 enters chamber 4 through port 14", thence by port 7 and branch 7 and pipe 9, to the upper portion of casing A. The water passes downwardly through the contents, then upwardly by pipe 12, branch 11, through port 11", to chamber 5, and by port 21" to drain pipe 21.

The construction and operation of the understood from invention will be readily The timing of the foregoing description.

'oa-ch cycle unit circulation may be easlly controlled by the cam proportions, mounting of the several cams with relation to each other, speed of rotation, etc. The valve mechanism is capable of variation in design or detail construction, and the various connecting and circulatin conduits may be changed or .re-arranged within the Judgment or discretion of the designer or operator. -All such changes, however, are within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. Circulation controlling means for water softening apparatus consisting of a casing having valve-controlled conduits leading thereto and therefrom, a plurzlillity aving a pair of seats for opening and closing adjacent conduits within the casing, and means within the casing for actuating the valves.

2. Circulation controlling means for water softening apparatus consisting of a casing having valve-controlled conduits leading thereto and therefrom, a plurality of double-acting spring retracted valve members each having a pair of seats for opening and closing adjacent-conduits within the casing, and means within the casing for actuating the valves.

3. Circulation controlling means for water softening apparatus consisting of a casing having valve-controlled conduits leading thereto and therefrom, a lurality of double-acting valve members eac having a I air of seats for o ening and closing ad acent conduits wit in the casin a spring connecting opposite valve mem ers, and means within the casing for actuating the valves and provided with external operating mechanism.

4. Circulation controlling means for water softening apparatus consisting of a double chambered casing having valve controlled conduits leading into and from each chamber, a series of pairs of double-acting valve members in each chamber each controlling two such conduits, cams therefor,

each chamber each having .for two adjacent conduits,

and a cam shaft extending transversely of the chambers provided, with an external operating device.

5. Circulation controlling means water softening-apparatus consisting of a double chambered casing having valve controlled conduits leading into and from each chamber, a series of pairs of double-acting valve members in each chamber, cams there for, reacting springs connecting opposite valve members, and a cam shaft extending transversely of the chambers provided with an external operating device.

6. Circulation controlling means for water softening apparatus consisting of a double-chambered casing having valvecontrolled conduits leading into and from each chamber, a plurality of pivoted valve members in each chamber each adapted to alternately open and close two of said conduits. valve actuating cams in each chamber, and.

a transverse cam shaft having external operating means,

7 In circulation controlling means for water softening a paratus, the combination of a double chambered casing having valve seated conduits leading into and from each chamber and consisting of two sets of foureach arranged on common transverse front and back planes, series of valvemembers in an opening and closing valve portion operable to alternately open and close adjacent conduits, operating cams therefor within the casing, and a spring for each valve member acting in opposition to the cam action.

for

8. In circulation controlling means for water softening a paratus, the combination of a double chambered casing having valve seated conduits leading into and from each chamber and arrange in correspondingly located series therein, with certain of sai conduits having a common connecting conduit, a plurality of pivoted valve members in each chamber each having two terminals operating cams and a spring for therefor Within the casing,

in opposition to each valve member acting the cam action.

9. In circulation controlling means for water softening apparatus, the combination ofa double chambered casing having valve seated conduits leadin intoand from each chamber and. arrange in correspondingly located series therein, with certain of sai conduits having a common connecting conduit, a plurality of pivoted valve members in each chamber each having two terminals for two adjacent conduits, operating cams therefor within the casing, and a spring connecting one such valve member with a similar opposite yalve member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

A. DREW J. norraawnrcn. 

